My First Blog Hop

...or 'Waltz' rather.  Welcome vistitors and waltzers!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Despite my doctor's advice NOT to do anything other than 'grow bone' for the first three months after my spinal fusion surgery I could not help thinking, "How much could making one card really hurt my back?"  The answer - A LOT!  OW!  I guess in the process of cardmaking I was doing enough leaning, twisting and/or bending and my back let me know it was not happy with me.  So, this is probably my last card for a little while, but I thought Claire's Blog Waltz for Waltzingmouse Stamps was the perfect event for the attempt and an opportunity to introduce my new little blog to the world.  (I just hope I didn't do any permanent damage!)  :(

So, here is my card for the waltz.  This month's theme was Irish Heritage or St. Patrick's Day.  I knew I wanted to use one of the first sets I ever purchased from Waltzingmouse Stamps, Irish Blessings paired with this cool Celtic Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I embossed a piece of Brushed Gold cardstock in the embossing folder.  Then I selected the sentiment and images I wanted to use and found a Nestabilities label shape that worked well with it, Labels 10.  I stamped the sentiment using Handsome Hunter ink and then added those petite little shamrock images on either side (aren't they the sweetest?).  To create the illusion of another layer, I held the die in place and sponged some Handsome Hunter Ink around the edges of the sentiment - it was my first time trying this technique - how do you think it came out?  I added a row of petite bling under the sentiment and some more rhinestones and golden domes accents and popped the panel up with dimensionals over a strip of grosgrain ribbon.  I had hoped to make something more elaborate, the spirit was willing but the back was weak.

Thank you all for visiting my blog and taking the time to look at my creation.  I hope you will visit again in the future, when my back has healed more and crafting is less painful.  Enjoy the rest of the waltz!
~Crafty Math Chick